How far is Crystal Lake, IL from Bruce, IL?

The driving distance from Crystal Lake, IL to Bruce, IL is about 236.3 miles (380.3 km), with a travel time of about 04h 55m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 188.6 miles (303.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 51m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
236.31 mi
04h 55m
Flight
188.65 mi
303.6 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Crystal Lake.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
188.65 mi
Kilometers
303.6 km
Flight Time
00h 22m

Driving Distance

Road route
236.31 mi
Kilometers
380.3 km
Drive Time
04h 55m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 55m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bruce
Thu, Apr 23, 7:22 AM CDT
Return by in Crystal Lake
Thu, Apr 23, 12:18 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Crystal Lake
2026-04-23T02:26
Arrive Bruce
Thu, Apr 23, 7:22 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 55m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:56 AM to 12:56 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
7:08 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Crystal Lake
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Ashkum
IL

Township in Iroquois County, Illinois

From Crystal Lake
118.2 mi
02h 27m
To Bruce
118.1 mi
02h 27m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S
Destination
78°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
9 to 20 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Crystal Lake and Bruce.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Crystal Lake and Bruce.

  1. 1

    Start on East Crystal Lake Avenue

    8 m · 5 sec · East Crystal Lake Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South Main Street

    1.7 mi · 4 min · South Main Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Pyott Road

    3 mi · 5 min · Pyott Road

  4. 4

    Turn left onto West Algonquin Road

    7.8 mi · 13 min · West Algonquin Road

  5. 5

    Turn straight onto Dundee Road

    1483 ft · 30 sec · Dundee Road

  6. 6

    Continue on Algonquin Road

    2.2 mi · 4 min · Algonquin Road

  7. 7

    Turn right onto North Barrington Road

    2.1 mi · 4 min · North Barrington Road

  8. 8

    Take the ramp left

    2915 ft · 38 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

    4.5 mi · 5 min · Jane Addams Memorial Tollway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 290, IL 53: Chicago, West Suburbs

    2618 ft · 1 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on I 290 East, IL 53 South: Chicago, West Suburbs

    1686 ft · 41 sec

  12. 12

    Continue on I 290 East, IL 53 South: Chicago, West Suburbs

    1362 ft · 33 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    5.7 mi · 7 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on I 290 East: Chicago

    9.3 mi · 12 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 88 West, I 294 South: Aurora, Indiana

    1648 ft · 40 sec

  16. 16

    Continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1937 ft · 47 sec · Tri-State Tollway

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    1 mi · 2 min · Tri-State Tollway

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto Tri-State Tollway

    42 m · 2 sec · Tri-State Tollway

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    4.8 mi · 6 min · Tri-State Tollway

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on Tri-State Tollway

    3.5 mi · 4 min · Tri-State Tollway

  21. 21

    Continue on Mile-Long Bridge

    1.5 km · 1 min · Mile-Long Bridge

  22. 22

    Continue on Tri-State Tollway

    8.5 mi · 11 min · Tri-State Tollway

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 50 South, IL 83: Cicero Avenue, 127th Street

    1162 ft · 28 sec

  24. 24

    Keep slight left to continue on IL 50 South: Cicero Avenue

    2529 ft · 1 min

  25. 25

    Turn straight onto Cicero Avenue

    4.9 mi · 8 min · Cicero Avenue

  26. 26

    Turn left onto 167th Street

    855 ft · 26 sec · 167th Street

  27. 27

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 57 South: Kankakee, I-80

    3048 ft · 1 min

  28. 28

    Merge slight left

    156.2 mi · 2 hr 49 min

  29. 29

    Take the exit slight right toward IL 16 West: Mattoon

    2489 ft · 1 min

  30. 30

    Turn straight onto Charleston Avenue East

    2.8 mi · 6 min · Charleston Avenue East

  31. 31

    Turn right onto South 19th Street

    2731 ft · 60 sec · South 19th Street

  32. 32

    Turn left onto Dewitt Avenue

    2 mi · 3 min · Dewitt Avenue

  33. 33

    Continue on Route 121

    3.5 mi · 5 min · Route 121

  34. 34

    Turn left onto 1000N

    156 m · 14 sec · 1000N

  35. 35

    Continue on County Highway 4

    6.6 mi · 16 min · County Highway 4

  36. 36

    Turn left

    691 ft · 30 sec

  37. 37

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Crystal Lake and Bruce.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
37 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
4 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 57 South
157 mi · 66%
Tri-State Tollway
18.2 mi · 8%
I 290 East
15.5 mi · 7%
West Algonquin Road
7.78 mi · 3%
County Highway 4
6.59 mi · 3%
Cicero Avenue
4.89 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 57 South

Merge slight left

156 mi · 02h 49m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 55m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+47.7 mi
188.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ashkum
02h 27m from Crystal Lake
Leave By
7:08 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Crystal Lake and Sunny near Bruce.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Crystal Lake to Bruce?

The road trip is about 236.3 miles (380.3 km) and usually takes 04h 55m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Ashkum is a useful midpoint, sitting about 118.2 miles from Crystal Lake and 118.1 miles from Bruce.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 188.6 miles (303.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 47.7 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:08 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $31.45 one way or $62.90 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 74.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Crystal Lake and Sunny near Bruce.

Stop Ideas Near Ashkum

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Ashkum, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Ashkum.

RAIL

Gilman

14 mi away
US Hwy 24 & West Wenona St.
RAIL

Kankakee

28 mi away
199 South East Ave.
RAIL

Dwight station

46 mi away
119 West Main St.
RAIL

Pontiac station

57 mi away
721 West Washington St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Crystal Lake and Bruce. Straight-line distance: 188.65 mi (303.6 km).

Crystal Lake

#1 Crystal Lake

City located in McHenry County, Illinois, USA

Population39,642
Coordinates42.2411300, -88.3162000
Altitude279
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Bruce

Unincorporated community in Illinois

Population12,209
Coordinates39.5189200, -88.5945000
Altitude195
CountryUnited States
Start: Crystal Lake (-88.3162, 42.24113)
End: Bruce (-88.5945, 39.51892)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 380 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 52m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 54m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 43m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 56m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 22m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 56m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.34 gal
31.56 L · about $31.45
Round trip
$62.90
16.68 gal · 63.12 L
Estimated CO2
74.1 kg one way
Round trip: 148.2 kg / 327 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $31.45 $62.90
Mid-grade $4.25 $35.47 $70.94
Premium $4.65 $38.81 $77.63
Diesel $5.30 $44.24 $88.47

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Illinois · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Crystal Lake and Bruce. The current time is 02:26:58.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.